Editorial
Timely step to retain job market abroad
Developing early response mechanism necessary
THE job contracts of 6,000 Bangladeshi expatriate workers, which were in balance in the island state of Mauritius, have finally been retained. We appreciate the role of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in making a fast-track diplomatic move to persuade the host government to renew the job contracts. Thanks are also due to the Mauritius government for the accommodative spirit it has extended towards Bangladesh.
This is no doubt a welcome development on our manpower export front at a time when some Middle-Eastern as well as Southeast Asian countries that host our expatriate workers have been subjected to the delayed impact of the worldwide economic downturn. But despite the economic straitjacket, the Mauritius government, for instance, has been able to realise the worth of Bangladeshi workers in recognition of their contribution to the country's economy.
That prompt and timely intervention can achieve results has been vindicated once again. But in spite of its successful outcome, what remains to be noted here is that an initiative had to be taken at the last moment. Why have we to wait for things to come to a critical pass?
Such last minute flurry of high-level diplomatic activities to save our expatriate workers' job need not be made into a pattern.
Basically, the Expatriates Welfare ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for that matter, the diplomatic missions in the host countries should develop a strategy to address issues relating to employment of Bangladeshi workers in all its aspects. To achieve that they should develop a database on our workers abroad including their problems and prospects in the host countries, the nature and conditions of their jobs, tenure of the contracts, the policies of the host governments and so on.
The manpower like any other major foreign currency earning export sector will be facing tough competition in the international job market in the days to come. To add to that would be the market uncertainties and turbulence like the one created by the ongoing recession. To ward off the negative impacts of such fortuitous developments, there is nothing like developing an early response mechanism. Simultaneously, we should vigorously explore possibilities of manpower market in newer pastures.
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